Chicago Picasso

iTunes Review

When they first emerged from the Chi-town underground, Kidz In the Hall were embraced for Double O's classic-minded production and Naledge's not-too-bougie, not-too-thugged-out wordplay. Following their impressive debut, they signed with Duck Down Records for a follow-up, and ramped up their collegiate/Kanye-esque image, complete with far too much self-assuredness and the requisite uniform of sweaters, tight pants, and goofy shades. Chicago Picasso is billed as a mixtape, and Naledge shares time with a diverse crowd of fellow MCs atop production that runs the gamut from soulful, loop-based jams to chintzy, minimalist synth stomps. Twenty tracks deep, it features hipster-rap golden boys Jay Electronica and Mickey Factz on "Cool Relax" and "Viva el Fantistico" respectively, Dirty South icon Bun B on "Look At Them Hips (Remix)," and local homie Rhymefest on "Focus," plus a plethora of hit-or-miss total unknowns. Ironically, the songs that come off the best ("Cleveland Freestyle," "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," "It Is What It Is"), are amongst the few without guest rappers.